Celebrating the temporary

My friend Rosie works at Fallbrook High. She was sharing about the sudden loss of Coach Hauck and how many lives he impacted for the better. Rosie reflected that death reminds us to celebrate the temporary. Our lives are temporary, every minute counts. Her words made me realize on a deep level that everyday is a special gift. Every experience is a chance to be God’s light in what can be a dark world. Smile, take in the fresh air, be a blessing, treat others with the respect they deserve and have a good belly laugh.

One evening driving down the coast in need of an attitude adjustment, huge dark clouds drifted in. I wondered why I should continue my trek as the clouds became so dense there wasn’t much chance for a stunning sunset. I continued on anyway in need of the sound of crashing waves, toes in the sand.

My back to the west from Oceanside to Carlsbad, I finally parked, slid my shoes off and just as I planted my toes in the cool sand, I saw it. A blaze of what appeared to be molten lava on the horizon with a dark cloud canopy. Within a few minutes, from behind the cloud cover, like a thin yellow translucent dime, the sun made a short appearance on the red horizon and dipped quietly into the sea. My heart delighted in the Lord.

As I drove away I listened to Andrea Bocelli sing “Because We Believe.” The words go… “Once in every life there comes a time, we walk out all alone and into the night. The moment won’t last, but then, we remember it again, when we close our eyes. Like stars across the sky, we were born to shine, all of us here because we believe!”

With that resounding in my mind I began thanking and praising God, for love, for losses, for abundance, for the wonderful people he has put in my life and especially for his presence. Attitude firmly adjusted.

How many opportunities are lost due to our fears, anxieties and complexities? In darkness or light we need to remember to trust God and delight ourselves in his lavish provisions. These moments of loss or beauty remind us to keep living one day at a time, being God’s light to others while celebrating the temporary.

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matt 5:14-16